U.N.: More Aid Getting into Gaza but Still Half Last Year's

United Nations, March 11, SPA -- A daily average of 120 truckloads of
aid were allowed into Gaza last week, an improvement from recent
level but still less than half the amount of aid allowed into Gaza
last summer, the United Nations Office for Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report on Tuesday.


OCHA said the pledges of some $5 billion at the recent international
donors conference for Gaza have yet to impact the overall
humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains unchanged.


Access remains the crucial issue and while there is an up tick in
the amount of aid, there is no change in the type of aid allowed into
the Strip. Of the 720 trucks allowed in last week, almost 600 trucks
were food aid.


Construction materials remain on the list of goods prohibited
despite the damage and destruction of some 14,000 homes during
Israel’s 22-day offensive. No fuel was allowed in last week and
scarcity is creating a surge in the price of petrol and diesel.


Israeli authorities also barred two pallets of UNICEF t-shirts from
entering the Strip saying such items were not a humanitarian
priority. The t-shirts were intended for girls in disadvantaged Gaza
schools. In recent weeks, Israel has barred children’s toys and
early childhood education kits from entering Gaza.


Schools remain damaged because of the absence of construction
materials and aid workers are using nylon sheets to cover up damaged
windows in schools.


Water and waste management systems remain inadequate, OCHA says,
because pipes and spare parts continue to be barred, heightening the
risk of disease.

--SPA